"It is really important that employers start to look ahead and plan how they may be able to maintain their flexibility. There will be a need to balance any proposed extra cost associated with a premium rate with being able to increase the headcount to cope with additional workload demand.

"The experienced team here at FBCMB will be able to talk employers through their options in relation to employment contracts."

Mr Thomas' proposal would see firms told to pay an increased rate above the minimum wage if they called upon workers whose contract requires them to be on standby for work.

This would give firms an incentive to guarantee more hours in advance, because it would cost them more to pay people for work that had not already been agreed.